The national identity for local public health is made up of words and a symbol that in time will come to identify the people and the work of local health departments (LHDs) throughout the United States.

NACCHO created the logo to help increase the visibility of local health departments and public understanding about what they do. If widely and consistenly used by local health departments, the symbol and message (which, taken together, constitute a “visual identity”), have the potential to become universally recognized and understood.

The logo has three aspects:  1) a three-sided blue shield; 2) a stylized “plus” sign inside on a khaki background; 3) the words “Prevent. Promote. Protect.” 

The shield

The shield is a symbol that connotes protection and safety, concepts that we want the public to associate with local health departments.  Its shape is clearly distinctive when it appears in silhouette.

The stylized “plus”

The stylized “plus” sign can be interpreted several ways. None of them is wrong because a symbol is an abstraction (like the Nike “swoosh”).  NACCHO strove for a symbol whose various possible meanings were all related to public health.  Consistent with the three curved sides of the shield, the three prongs represent the three core functions of public health (assessment, assurance and policy development).  They echo the three words below, “Prevent. Promote. Protect.”  The symbol is also a variation on the “plus” sign that is so familiar from the Red Cross logo and is firmly associated with health in the public mind.  Some see a stylized human figure with arms outstretched in a benevolent gesture.  Others see in the prongs pointing upward and outward a representation of our common aspiration to improve the health of all.  

The colors

Blue and khaki are both colors long used in U.S. Public Health Service uniforms.  They are also relatively neutral, thereby preventing the logo from clashing with other health department logos with which the symbol may be used.

The words

The three words “Prevent. Promote. Protect.” are a simple, firm, elegant statement about what public health does and what public health achieves.    

All governmental public health departments are welcomed and encouraged to use the logo. It is a free tool and can be used either as the agency's primary logo or alongside existing logos. For more information on how to use the logo, click here to donwload the usage guide.

Broader use by any private or non-profit entity that is part of the public health system is not permitted, as it would undermine NACCHO’s basic purpose of identifying and distinguishing governmental public health, which has unique legal responsibilities and authorities.

The logo colors are Pantone Matching System (PMS) 289, PMS 465 and White. The logo may be reproduced in a four color process separation of PMS 289 = 100% cyan, 64% magenta and 60% black; PMS 465 = 20% cyan, 32% magenta and 58% yellow.

The logo should not be rearranged, altered or changed by adding or deleting elements or changing font type or color. For more information on how to use the logo, click here to donwload the usage guide.

In response to requests, some special versions of the logo have been developed to accomodate certain uses. These include a Spanish language version of the logo; a version of the logo without the tagline; a white version of the logo for use on dark colors; and two versions that allow LHDs to customize it by adding an agency or program name.

Download one of the two customizable versions of the logo here in EPS format. Then simply alter the text to add your LHD or program name.

You will need to have Adobe Photoshop on your computer to customize the logo. If you do not, please contact Kate Grisard for assistance.

Yes. The tagline of the logo, “Public Health: Prevent. Promote. Protect.” is not protected intellectual property. Those words have been used many times in that form and in variations.  NACCHO asserts no ownership rights over that tagline and we would be delighted to see it come into wider use in the public health field.